VC Encore Defiant 2140 Appears Dead – Need Replacement Options
We have been running a VC Encore Defiant 2140 for six winters – 24 X 7. It was in the house when we bought it, and was not running correctly at the time, but it took a couple years and a major rebuild – new fire back, new refectory, new damper door, new damper door frame, etc.
Well during the rebuild we found the lower left (when looking at the rear of the stove) screw hole that hold the entire back to the body of the stove was broken – the cast iron had cracked through the screw hole. There wasn’t room to add a nut or anything in place of the missing threaded section. So we used the 5 remaining screws. Stove worked great for all of last season.
This fall I replaced the cat – it was replaced several years ago and was a bit degraded when I replaced it this year.
I think the old cat was hiding an increase in primary air flow. So this fall with small fire of OK wood (cherry, maple) we were getting griddle temps of about 700F with the primary air door closed. I got behind the stove to check that it was really closed – and it was.
Back there I noticed the left side is opening up at the bottom. I think the screw hole above the missing one has failed as well, so I have an air path from the back/bottom into the primary air passage. The fix would be an entire disassembly and replacement of the internal side panels. I would guess that some other parts are going to need replacement as well and that taking apart the 20+ year old joints will reveal some new issues.
I don’t feel overly safe running the stove knowing that the sides are, more or less, falling apart.
The stove is in an old fireplace/hearth (house is from the 1740’s) with a stainless steel flex liner in the chimney which sets the stove exhaust height. So I don’t want to change that, so I have limited room.
I like the VC look, so options would be a newer Encore/defiant – I don’t want to try the 2-1 technology, so I would be limited to dealer stock of older new stoves.
The Woodstock Progress seems interesting – anyone try one yet?
Stove has to “look good†- no stamped metal or black boxes…needs to have some character.
This is our primary to only heat source for a 2,000 sq ft cape – so need a stove with a similar heat output and burn time as the current stove.
Any other thoughts, options or good ideas?
We have been running a VC Encore Defiant 2140 for six winters – 24 X 7. It was in the house when we bought it, and was not running correctly at the time, but it took a couple years and a major rebuild – new fire back, new refectory, new damper door, new damper door frame, etc.
Well during the rebuild we found the lower left (when looking at the rear of the stove) screw hole that hold the entire back to the body of the stove was broken – the cast iron had cracked through the screw hole. There wasn’t room to add a nut or anything in place of the missing threaded section. So we used the 5 remaining screws. Stove worked great for all of last season.
This fall I replaced the cat – it was replaced several years ago and was a bit degraded when I replaced it this year.
I think the old cat was hiding an increase in primary air flow. So this fall with small fire of OK wood (cherry, maple) we were getting griddle temps of about 700F with the primary air door closed. I got behind the stove to check that it was really closed – and it was.
Back there I noticed the left side is opening up at the bottom. I think the screw hole above the missing one has failed as well, so I have an air path from the back/bottom into the primary air passage. The fix would be an entire disassembly and replacement of the internal side panels. I would guess that some other parts are going to need replacement as well and that taking apart the 20+ year old joints will reveal some new issues.
I don’t feel overly safe running the stove knowing that the sides are, more or less, falling apart.
The stove is in an old fireplace/hearth (house is from the 1740’s) with a stainless steel flex liner in the chimney which sets the stove exhaust height. So I don’t want to change that, so I have limited room.
I like the VC look, so options would be a newer Encore/defiant – I don’t want to try the 2-1 technology, so I would be limited to dealer stock of older new stoves.
The Woodstock Progress seems interesting – anyone try one yet?
Stove has to “look good†- no stamped metal or black boxes…needs to have some character.
This is our primary to only heat source for a 2,000 sq ft cape – so need a stove with a similar heat output and burn time as the current stove.
Any other thoughts, options or good ideas?